Smart meters fitted in Dubai taxis

New 'smart' meters that analyse driving behaviour will shortly be fitted into some Dubai taxis.

The Public Transport Agency of the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) showcased the next generation of Smart Taxi Meters at GITEX 2013 last week.

"The state-of-the-art Smart Taxi Meters would allow the customers to see the taxi driver information in addition to his picture. This step has been taken to improve the customer satisfaction level in taxis and gain feedback from customers," said Adel Shakri, Director of Transport Systems at the agency.

"The Transport Systems Department would be able to send road safety messages and weather conditions to their taxi drivers using the Smart Meters to improve drivers' and customers' safety.

"The Smart Meters would connect directly to the taxis on-board computers, which would be used to collect precise information and data, and later on analyse driving behaviours of different drivers.

"In addition, three-dimentional-maps would be available in all Smart Meters to provide route guidance and help drivers in taking customers to different destinations all over Dubai on time."

Shakri added: "The Department will also be able to send images of Dubai City as well as other information such as promotions related to incoming landmark events like Expo 2020 images that can be sent online to the Smart Meter and then be displayed on the screen of the smart meters.

"The Smart Meters would be integrated with the sophisticated Dispatcher 8 System of the Dispatch Centre at the Public Transport Agency that is currently runs more than 8,500 taxis in the Emirate of Dubai to cater to the needs of taxi riders.

"Initially, RTA plans to start rolling out the Smart Meters to 600 taxis this November provided that the application would be executed on the remaining taxicabs of the entire fleet on phases."